My neighbour whose garden is overshadowed by both a huge copper beech and the hedge/fence between our gardens (see pic), has asked for advice on plants with colour which will grow in such a location. In my own shaded border, I've got bergenia, hellebore, brunnera, which flower in the spring. Suggestions for summer flowering plants (either annuals or perennials) with colour which will thrive in a very shaded site will be most welcome, both for me and for her!

Welcome to GOY Kowhai. If you go to the foot of the page and click on S in the alphabet, then on shade plants on the S index ,you will find lots of plants which thrive in various degrees of shade. To get colour it is not always necessary to have spectacular flowers. Leaf and berry colour will provide colour too. An annual which does spectacularly well in shade or practically any other situation is Begonia Sempervirens. Little clumps, planted pots or rows, of this half hardy annual is often looked down on by "gardeners" because of its use in municipal planting but it works, never needs dead heading and comes in shades from white to red. It does not mind shade. Heucheras are my own particular favourite and Japanese Anemone also thrive in shade.